It will soon be easier to walk around Yorkton, thanks to the Yorkton Business Improvement District (YBID). At a meet and greet on Nov. 21, the organization announced a plan to pay for walking paths along Dracup Ave., donating $100,000 initially and committing to $50,000 a year, to a maximum of $500,000.
The money will be used for trails, lighting and a bridge on the Dracup project, to expand the walking trail system in the city.
Mayor Bob Maloney said that the walking trail system in the city that exists right now has been a hit, so they鈥檙e glad that they will be able to expand it and reach more areas of the city.
鈥淭hat system has proved very popular. Especially younger people seem to love it. They get on their bikes, skateboarding or rollerblading.鈥�
The trails will connect to the city鈥檚 existing trails in the Heritage Heights area and up to downtown. Maloney said that the end goal is to have trails connect through the entire city.
鈥淲e鈥檙e getting really good feedback on it, people everywhere seem to like it. I met a gentleman who pushed his mother in a wheelchair all the way from Winchester, where the seniors鈥� centre is down to the park to watch the kids skateboarding, because she really seemed to enjoy that. They would go over to Dairy Queen for a cup of coffee and go back again. They were very appreciative of the trail because it鈥檚 all wheelchair friendly and it goes all the way from Winchester to the downtown.鈥�
The project is also a continuation of the city鈥檚 long-running relationship with YBID.
鈥淵BID has a history of working with the city on projects, some of which they have identified, some of which we have identified. They鈥檝e been terrific partners for us,鈥� said Maloney.
YBID Chair Megan Richards said they are supporting the project because it鈥檚 the kind of initiative that helps residents enjoy the city.
鈥淲e see it as a great opportunity for the city of Yorkton to beautify itself and make itself more accessible for walking.鈥�
As a downtown business district, they also recognize that adding walking trails will allow better access to the city鈥檚 downtown to residents from the northern end of the city.
It is expected that construction on the project will begin this spring.
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